New String Options

[Wizard of Wailing]

    I realized today that I've played the guitar for 24 years and have never used anything but Ernie Ball Slinkys.  I'm wondering: what's a good quality string that will sound noticeably different from my usual brand? I still like EBs but I figure I should try something different for once.

 

[stratamania]

Try some Elixir nanowebs.

Id used Daddarios for years which are worth checking out and on occasion Slinkys or Super Bullets, and thought I would give the elixirs a try and was impressed.

It's all subjective in the end but it's worth trying a few things.

 

[Cagey]

An easy move would be to go to some Ernie Ball stainless steel strings. There's a small price premium on them, but not so as you'd notice. You will notice that they're a lot brighter and they last a lot longer. I've not only used them, I keep a stock of them around. My normal go-to string brand is D'Addario. Buy those in bulk. They work with anything, sound great, and wear well.

Another set worth trying is the new "Cobalt" strings, also from Ernie Ball. I have a couple sets here but haven't tried them yet. But, my understanding is they produce a higher output, so you could bang your amp's input stage a little harder. Dunno. I've also seen reports from more than one source that they feel funny, but I can't speak to that.

 

[mark1178]

First, don't use Blue Steels unless you want to break a string midway through your first song.

I used Ernie Ball Slinkys for years, but they did keep breaking on me, nowhere near as often as Blue Steels but nonetheless. So I switched to D'Addarios and a ton of others. I ended up staying on GHS Boomers and haven't looked back since. Been using the 10's for years now, but will be trying the 9's on the Tele I'm building with an Xtrem tremolo so we'll see how those go.

The GHS Boomers to me are long lasting solid strings, not as bright as some, but has a nice warm sound compared to some others I've used (just my opinion). May be a little stiffer than most strings, hard for me to tell now since I've only used them for the last decade, but that's a good thing for me.

 

[ptirman]

Thomastik Infeld.

You'll never go back.

 

[swarfrat]

Stainless do feel funny, but you get used to it quickly. I'm in a bright crunchy heavy midrange medium gain phase right now, and absolutely love em. I do worry though, as the guitar I have em on has already been leveled twice and is prone to wearing on the G-string. Or was. My playing is a lot different now.

 

[mrpinter]

Thomastik Infeld.

You'll never go back.

Amen, brother! They're all I will use on every guitar I own. They're in a league of their own. They're costly compared to ordinary strings, but they do last longer than you'd think possible. I use their jazz strings on my electrics (roundwounds and flatwounds on one guitar). But I've used the Blues Sliders and Power Brights in the past, and they're all fantastic strings, just with different characteristics. If you're changing from Slinkies maybe I'd start with the Power Brights for a rock and roll attitude, or the Sliders for a somewhat "rounder", mellower sound.

 

[ptirman]

Amen, brother! They're all I will use on every guitar I own. They're in a league of their own. They're costly compared to ordinary strings, but they do last longer than you'd think possible. I use their jazz strings on my electrics (roundwounds and flatwounds on one guitar). But I've used the Blues Sliders and Power Brights in the past, and they're all fantastic strings, just with different characteristics. If you're changing from Slinkies maybe I'd start with the Power Brights for a rock and roll attitude, or the Sliders for a somewhat "rounder", mellower sound.

Me too, the only strings I use as well. And completely agree, Power brights are probably the best to try after having used slinky's.

 

[Strat Avenger]

First, don't use Blue Steels unless you want to break a string midway through your first song.

Wow, I just recently discovered this. I put a new set of Blue Steels on my new Warmoth Strat, and while dialing things in, broke the low E and the high E. I thought they were supposed to be good strings, but obviously not.

I've always had good luck with Slinkys.

And coated strings (Elixir) suck on electric guitar. I love them for acoustic though.

 

[stratamania]

And coated strings (Elixir) suck on electric guitar. I love them for acoustic though.

That hasn't been my experience. Why do you find they "suck" ?

 

[dmraco]

I have found the cobalt strings very pleasing.  I like the feel and the tone does not diminish over time.

 

[erogenousjones17]

And coated strings (Elixir) suck on electric guitar. I love them for acoustic though.

That hasn't been my experience. Why do you find they "suck" ?

Mine either. I have them on all my guitars (acoustic and electric) and love them. They sound great and I haven't had to change them in years. Literally.

 

[swarfrat]

As soon as the stock I have is used up, I'm throwing coated phosphor on my acoustic, aka the #1 drool magnet.

 

[bbl4ck]

They're costly compared to ordinary strings, but they do last longer than you'd think possible.

Dang, your not kidding they're more costly!  $22 at Amazon...
Based on comments, I ordered a set of the Blues Sliders just to try em' out. 
How long are your strings lasting Mr. P?

 

[mrpinter]

They're costly compared to ordinary strings, but they do last longer than you'd think possible.

Dang, your not kidding they're most costly!  $22 at Amazon...
Based on comments, I ordered a set of the Blues Sliders just to try em' out. 
How long are your strings lasting Mr. P?

I'm using Thomastik's jazz strings on all my electrics. The Bebop round wounds get changed about every six months; and the Swing flat wounds I have on one guitar last almost a year. The Blues Sliders won't last as long, but are probably good for two or three months - maybe longer - depending on your playing habits. The Sliders are great strings, by the way - very "alive" but still smooth.

 

[mark1178]

First, don't use Blue Steels unless you want to break a string midway through your first song.

Wow, I just recently discovered this. I put a new set of Blue Steels on my new Warmoth Strat, and while dialing things in, broke the low E and the high E. I thought they were supposed to be good strings, but obviously not.

I've always had good luck with Slinkys.

And coated strings (Elixir) suck on electric guitar. I love them for acoustic though.

I like the sound of Blue Steels, but when they don't break upon your third strum or at the first verse of a song, their shelf life just sucks.

 

[Strat Avenger]

I use D'Addario EXP 80/20 Bronze coated strings (D'Addario's version of Elixirs) on my acoustic, and I love 'em. They cost less than Elixirs.

I get a lot of use from regular strings on my electrics because I wash my hands before playing my guitars.

 

[rejexx]

I use GHS David Gilmour Boomers on both my Strat and LP. Great strings with a lovely tone  :headbang: :toothy10: